Calcar, a prominent dairy company based in Uruguay’s Colonia Department, faces a turning point as it weighs acquisition offers from a multinational dairy company and a proposed workers’ cooperative. The Uruguayan government is also evaluating financial assistance options to support the struggling dairy firm.
Calcar, one of Uruguay’s leading dairy producers based in the Colonia Department, is at a crossroads as a multinational dairy company expresses interest in acquiring its operations. The potential acquisition follows prolonged financial troubles and could reshape the dairy landscape in Uruguay.
The development was confirmed by Ricardo de Izaguirre, President of the National Milk Institute (INALE), who stated that Calcar’s future now hinges on two main options: acquisition by a foreign multinational or conversion into a workers’ cooperative.
The Uruguayan government is actively exploring solutions to ease Calcar’s financial burden. Among the measures under discussion is a proposal for the State to cover up to 50% of the company’s USD 2.5 million debt owed to milk producers. Authorities are also working on reallocating VAT returns to help clear overdue wages owed to Calcar’s employees.
In addition to the workers’ cooperative proposal, interest has surfaced from a local bottle packaging company and a multinational dairy firm—whose identity remains undisclosed but is already active in Uruguay. If the multinational takes over, it would operate Calcar’s milk and cheese production facilities, providing a potential boost to the country’s dairy sector.
The decision is expected to have a lasting impact on producers, workers, and Uruguay’s position in the global dairy industry. As the nation’s agricultural authorities assess the proposals, stakeholders remain hopeful for a sustainable resolution.
